Articles

 
How to Generate Better Ideas

How to Generate Better Ideas

Photo courtesty swanksalot How many times have you heard this: “we’ve got to be more creative around here,” or “we need some creative solutions...
 
7 Ways to Have More Creative Ideas Than You Thought Possible

7 Ways to Have More Creative Ideas Than You Thought Possible

By Dan Goodwin Anyone who creates needs a steady influx of new ideas. Everything every created, everything ever invented, began with a tiny gem...
 
Easy Steps to Help You Break Through Your Creative Wall

Easy Steps to Help You Break Through Your Creative Wall

By John Kostrzewski No matter how experienced, we all hit the creative wall at one point or another in our career. If gone unchecked...
 
Increase Creativity In Two Steps

Increase Creativity In Two Steps

By Steve Gillman To increase creativity, you need to do two things. First, you need to encourage it. Second, you need to train your...
 
Tips for Machine Quilting

Tips for Machine Quilting

Looking to find some tips on how to make your free motion quilting simply “fabulous”? I plan to have the “Fabulous Free Motion Quilting”...

Books

 
Handmade Embroidered Bags

Handmade Embroidered Bags

I’ve been working a lot with bags and purses lately. I really like working with the small size and I’m having fun with unusual...
 
Fabric Embellishing

Fabric Embellishing

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Image Transfer Books

Image Transfer Books

Some recommended reading … The New Photo Crafts: Photo Transfer Techniques and Projects for Fabric, Paper, Wood, Polymer Clay & More Next Steps in...
 
Embellishing with Anything

Embellishing with Anything

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Beading on Fabric

Beading on Fabric

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Fine Embellishment Techniques

Fine Embellishment Techniques

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Embellished Clothing

Embellished Clothing

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Fabric Manipulations

Fabric Manipulations

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Machine Needlelace

Machine Needlelace

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Creative Embellishments

Creative Embellishments

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Finally – Digital Art Explained Creatively

Finally – Digital Art Explained Creatively

Attention all you creative Photoshopoholics – there’s a new book in town written JUST for you. Every now and then I browse through the...
 
Inspiration For All You Eccentric Fashionistas

Inspiration For All You Eccentric Fashionistas

What inspires you … to be daring … to be different Be inspired by Iris Apfel … Want more? Enjoy the slideshow or check...
 
Stitch, Cloth, Paper, Paint

Stitch, Cloth, Paper, Paint

If you follow my blog, you should know by now that I love to work with fabric paper. I print on it I paint...

Creatively Recycled

 
Creative Recycling

Creative Recycling

If you’re anything like me, it’s hard to throw away “useful” pieces of fabric, particularly if they’re interesting or beautiful. I have a lot...
 
More Creative Recycling

More Creative Recycling

Do you ever have creative ideas that just won’t let go? I often do, but I also think that they also serve a purpose....
 
Creatively Recycled: From Tablecloth to Applique to Tote

Creatively Recycled: From Tablecloth to Applique to Tote

I get a strong sense of satisfaction when I finish a project to completion, and I’m sure you do also, but in opposition I...
 
Creatively Recycled: Buddha Bag

Creatively Recycled: Buddha Bag

It’s amazing what you can do with a few scraps of fabric and a little imagination! As you know I’ve recently been on a...
 
What Was I Thinking?

What Was I Thinking?

When I said the other day … “I’m not sure if I’ll embellish this art bag.” Of course I was going to embellish it!...

Digital Art

 
New Digital Art Designs

New Digital Art Designs

Some new digital art designs I’ve been working on … I couldn’t make up my mind which color I liked better, so I like...

Embellishments

 
Titivations

Titivations

This week I’m sharing with you some of my favorite techniques. Yesterday we looked at machine needle felting. Today it’s all about Embellishments. Whether...

Free Motion Quilting

 
Free Motion Quilting … Just Fabulous!

Free Motion Quilting … Just Fabulous!

This week I’m sharing with you some of my favorite techniques. On Tuesday we looked at machine needle felting, yesterday was all about Titivating...

Handbags Purses & Totes

 
Chaos and Order

Chaos and Order

Way back when I was dressmaking I once had a client who freaked out when she saw all her beautiful fabric cut into pieces...
 
Purses Totes & Handbags Updated for July

Purses Totes & Handbags Updated for July

Now Listing Over 180 Free Patterns & Tutorials Head over to the Free Purses Totes & Handbags listings and click on the Alphabetical Section...
 
Purses Totes & Handbags Updated for August

Purses Totes & Handbags Updated for August

Just updated … and now listing over 200 links to free purse, tote and handbag patterns and tutorials. Pick your favorite from the images...

How To

 
Attaching Invisible Magnetic Snaps

Attaching Invisible Magnetic Snaps

I’ve been playing around making purses with unusual shapes and I really like this one with it’s wavy asymmetrical top edge. For both the...
 
How To Make Your Own Fabric Labels

How To Make Your Own Fabric Labels

With the abundance of handmade items around, particularly on online stores like Etsy, it’s a good idea to attach your own fabric label to...

Images

 
Stitching – Not Just For Fabric

Stitching – Not Just For Fabric

newly stitched acacia wood plates, originally uploaded by anczelowitz. Isn’t this fabulous? Stitched acacia wood plates. Continue reading

Interesting Websites

 
The Scariest Colors Imaginable

The Scariest Colors Imaginable

Photo courtesty Capture Queen ™ For textile and quilt artists, that’s a scary thought! The ColorLovers blog has an interesting article about this very...
 
Magstitch

Magstitch

If you love the work of Maggie Grey, she has a new blog, Magstitch, which should certainly be on your list of bookmarks. Visit...
 
The Freedom of Hand Embroidery

The Freedom of Hand Embroidery

I love to do handwork when I can find the time. French knots in particular hold a fascination – they can blend and twist...
 
YarnBombing Anyone?

YarnBombing Anyone?

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Embellishing with Hand Stitches

Embellishing with Hand Stitches

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Thread Painting Tutorials

Thread Painting Tutorials

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Pretty Things For Your Feet

Pretty Things For Your Feet

I recently became a fan of Tracy Porter who has an online blog and store, and not in the least because of these beautiful...
 
Adventures in Knitting

Adventures in Knitting

Hands up who likes to knit? I find knitting very relaxing and I remember spending many days when I was very young, with my...
 
Silken Threads

Silken Threads

Those of us who work with fabric, whether it’s making art quilts, garments or any of the other zillion things you can do with...

Machine Needle Felting

 
Machine Needle Felting

Machine Needle Felting

This week on the blog I’m sharing with you some of my very favorite techniques and you know they’re my favorites because I’ve written...

Resources

 
Embellishments with Attitude

Embellishments with Attitude

Today kicks off the 30 Days of Titivations here on my blog – a fun way to celebrate the re-release of my instructional DVD...
 
Invisible Magnetic Snaps – A Fabulous Way to Close Things

Invisible Magnetic Snaps – A Fabulous Way to Close Things

I’ve been asked by many of you where I get my invisible magnetic snaps from. Invisible magnetic snaps are small, thin magnetic discs encased...

Sewing Techniques

 
Hand Dyed Fabric: Playing with Complementary Colors

Hand Dyed Fabric: Playing with Complementary Colors

As the weather here in Florida turns nice and warm, I finally got the chance to go play in my dye room the other...
 
Hand Dyed Fabric: Still Playing with Complementary Colors

Hand Dyed Fabric: Still Playing with Complementary Colors

If you remember the beautiful hand dyed fabric that I ended up with last week after my fun dye-day, for a few days they...
 
Hand Dyed Fabric: All Done Playing with Complementary Colors

Hand Dyed Fabric: All Done Playing with Complementary Colors

If you have been following the process: It started here with some hand dyed fabrics; then I began the design process; and now for...
 
Decorative Stitches in Focus

Decorative Stitches in Focus

PS To learn some of the fabulous techniques I use in my work, stop by the store and check out my instructional dvds. I...
 
Attaching Invisible Magnetic Snaps

Attaching Invisible Magnetic Snaps

I’ve been playing around making purses with unusual shapes and I really like this one with it’s wavy asymmetrical top edge. For both the...
 
Sewing 101

Sewing 101

How are your sewing skills? I like to think I have excellent sewing skills. I’ve been sewing constantly since I was a very young...

Something To Think About

 
Exploring

Exploring

Photo courtesy of JMC Photos And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for...
 
Voyage of Discovery

Voyage of Discovery

Photo courtesy of extranoise We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which...
 
Follow Your Bliss

Follow Your Bliss

Photo courtesy www.morguefile.com If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while...
 
Pause

Pause

Photo courtesy www.morguefile.com Learn to pause … or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you. Doug King Continue reading
 
When we let our own light shine

When we let our own light shine

Let’s start a new week and a new month and a new day with a beautiful, inspirational quote from Marianne Williamson, and a gorgeous...
 
The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken

Let’s start the week with one of my favorite inspirational poems by Robert Frost together with a beautiful accompanying photo taken by buksy4free. This...
 
Having Wings

Having Wings

I always like to start the working week with some inspiration and I love to waste a few minutes each day browsing Flickr because...
 
Miracles and Moments

Miracles and Moments

A little inspiration to start the week. Today enjoy this evocative image from Chi King. Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing. Wayne...

Textile Art Tutorials

 
Embellishing with Fusible Thread

Embellishing with Fusible Thread

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Angelina Fiber Tutorials

Angelina Fiber Tutorials

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Paintstik Tutorials

Paintstik Tutorials

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Thread Painting Tutorials

Thread Painting Tutorials

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Fabric Poppies

Fabric Poppies

I just love poppies. I like most colors, but I particularly love red poppies. The color is so bright and beautiful, and the flower...
 
Working with Water Soluble Stabilizer

Working with Water Soluble Stabilizer

As well as printing on fabric, I also love to work with water soluble stabilizer and today I’ve rounded up some of my favorite...

Videos

 
Custom Fabric Printing

Custom Fabric Printing

Spoonflower is a company that will print your own design and make custom fabric for you at a very reasonable price. This short video...
 
Inside The Box Pushing at the Seams

Inside The Box Pushing at the Seams

I’m not a strong proponent of the phrase “thinking outside the box”. I think that phrase places too much emphasis on creating ideas from...
 
Printing on Tissue Paper

Printing on Tissue Paper

One of my favorite techniques is image transfer. Mostly I like to transfer images directly to fabric using various methods, however sometimes I also...
 
Using Decorative Stitches to Embellish

Using Decorative Stitches to Embellish

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
The Secret Life of the Sewing Machine

The Secret Life of the Sewing Machine

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Fabric Beads

Fabric Beads

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Angelina Fiber Tutorial

Angelina Fiber Tutorial

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Using Paintstiks

Using Paintstiks

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Embossing Velvet

Embossing Velvet

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Thread Painting

Thread Painting

This post is part of the 30 Days of Titivations. Details can be found here and for additional information on the Titivations DVD, please...
 
Inspiration For All You Eccentric Fashionistas

Inspiration For All You Eccentric Fashionistas

What inspires you … to be daring … to be different Be inspired by Iris Apfel … Want more? Enjoy the slideshow or check...